JAKARTA - Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged Turkey's security concerns over Sweden and Finland's offer of membership to the bloc, as he highlighted Turkey's importance to the alliance.
"I also recognize the importance of addressing the concerns that Turkey has raised," Stoltenberg told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, citra forum the Daily Sabah.
He said Turkey "is an important ally", which has played a "key role" in the fight against ISIS, having a "strategic geographical location," which is "important to the whole Alliance."
Stoltenberg points out, "no other NATO ally has suffered more terrorist attacks than Turkey."
"We have to sit down and find a way forward," he said.
Sweden and Finland officially signed up to join NATO last week, a decision prompted by Russia's war in Ukraine, which began in February.
But Turkey, a longtime member of the alliance, has voiced objections to the membership offer, criticizing the countries for tolerating and even supporting terrorist groups such as the PKK/YPG.
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Meanwhile, accession to membership requires the unanimous approval of all 30 NATO member states.
In its more than 40-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people.
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